2018 MLB Coach of the Year, Houston Astros pitching coach Brent Strom makes a mound visit.
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ISG Breaks New Ground with Historic String of Clinics in Cuba
On the heels of its first-ever inroads into baseball in Russia, ISG Baseball became the first organization to travel to Cuba with American coaches and present coaching courses to Cuban baseball coaches since before that country’s historic change of government in the 1960s. Under the auspices of the Cuban Baseball Federation, former USA Baseball National Team coach and ISG Vice President Pete Caliendo traveled to Cuba to present the a series of coaching courses at several locations around the island nation.
This momentous event drew great press coverage and created a buzz in the Cuban baseball community. Cuban state radio featured much discussion and comment regarding the significance of these classes and their effects on the coaching community.
Coach Caliendo traveled throughout Cuba for nine days with a staff headed by Jesus Barroso, a veteran of over 300 coaching classes in the past two decades. They were accompanied by seven-time Cuban batting champion Wilfredo Shancez who now serves as a coach on national teams. Their journeys began and ended in Havana with trips to Mayabeque, a 14 hour road trip by van to Granma, on to Villa Clara and finally back to the Cuban capitol city. Caliendo remarked several times on the beauty of the countryside in all the locations.
Each stop included a two-day theory and practical course for coaches from all provinces. In total, Cuba has 16 provinces which each sent coaches to the events. The group educated over 150 coaches in the nine days.
“Cuban Baseball has been at the top of international baseball for many years,” said Caliendo. “This was my 9th trip here, but the 1st time that I taught courses throughout the country. This experience showed me why Cuba has consistently been one of the best baseball countries in the world.”
“They have tremendous organization at the top,” Caliendo continued. “The Cuban Baseball Federation controls all the baseball in Cuba. They conduct a fantastic coaches development program which has seen as many as 322 organized coaches courses in 20 years, producing high level, well educated coaches. There are 16 baseball academies which house the best players ages in all major age groups. Plus there are over 60,000 players who are very athletic, have a passion for the game, are hungry to rise to the next level and – maybe most importantly, they have great pride in their country.”
“We at ISG Baseball look forward to many years of working together with the Cuban Baseball Federation to continue helping coaches get better. They are hungry for the technology and science part of the game as well!”
Caliendo’s closing words really summed up what baseball has meant to so many around the world: “This trip allowed me to meet so many friendly Cuban people and see their beautiful country. Hopefully one day we can all be working together to better our countries."
Click here to view photos of this landmark series of clinics.
This momentous event drew great press coverage and created a buzz in the Cuban baseball community. Cuban state radio featured much discussion and comment regarding the significance of these classes and their effects on the coaching community.
Coach Caliendo traveled throughout Cuba for nine days with a staff headed by Jesus Barroso, a veteran of over 300 coaching classes in the past two decades. They were accompanied by seven-time Cuban batting champion Wilfredo Shancez who now serves as a coach on national teams. Their journeys began and ended in Havana with trips to Mayabeque, a 14 hour road trip by van to Granma, on to Villa Clara and finally back to the Cuban capitol city. Caliendo remarked several times on the beauty of the countryside in all the locations.
Each stop included a two-day theory and practical course for coaches from all provinces. In total, Cuba has 16 provinces which each sent coaches to the events. The group educated over 150 coaches in the nine days.
“Cuban Baseball has been at the top of international baseball for many years,” said Caliendo. “This was my 9th trip here, but the 1st time that I taught courses throughout the country. This experience showed me why Cuba has consistently been one of the best baseball countries in the world.”
“They have tremendous organization at the top,” Caliendo continued. “The Cuban Baseball Federation controls all the baseball in Cuba. They conduct a fantastic coaches development program which has seen as many as 322 organized coaches courses in 20 years, producing high level, well educated coaches. There are 16 baseball academies which house the best players ages in all major age groups. Plus there are over 60,000 players who are very athletic, have a passion for the game, are hungry to rise to the next level and – maybe most importantly, they have great pride in their country.”
“We at ISG Baseball look forward to many years of working together with the Cuban Baseball Federation to continue helping coaches get better. They are hungry for the technology and science part of the game as well!”
Caliendo’s closing words really summed up what baseball has meant to so many around the world: “This trip allowed me to meet so many friendly Cuban people and see their beautiful country. Hopefully one day we can all be working together to better our countries."
Click here to view photos of this landmark series of clinics.
ISG - Same Mission and Goals;
Brand New Name
Over the past decade or so, one of the major corporate trends has been re-branding of product names and symbols. Like using Twitter and Snapchat, it's seems to be the "in" thing to do. Well, we at ISG are not immune to these trends...in fact we have decided to embrace them.
Although the main thrust of International Sports Group (ISG) has always been the development and education of baseball coaches worldwide, over the years our name has caused some confusion in sporting circles. Originally, our beloved founder Bill Arce intended that the group not only educate coaches, but also arrange opportunities for baseball and softball teams to visit Europe and compete internationally. However, the mission of educating baseball coaches soon became the overriding passion of our organization.
Because everyone in baseball recognizes our initials - ISG - and associates them with baseball clinics, seminars and licensing opportunities, we have decided to only use those initials in the future. From this point on, all of our publicity and endeavors will be re-labeled with a name we think is a much more accurate reflection of our mission and our goals.
We look forward to serving the baseball federations of the world as we head into our 36th year flying our new colors and our new brand -- ISG BASEBALL
Although the main thrust of International Sports Group (ISG) has always been the development and education of baseball coaches worldwide, over the years our name has caused some confusion in sporting circles. Originally, our beloved founder Bill Arce intended that the group not only educate coaches, but also arrange opportunities for baseball and softball teams to visit Europe and compete internationally. However, the mission of educating baseball coaches soon became the overriding passion of our organization.
Because everyone in baseball recognizes our initials - ISG - and associates them with baseball clinics, seminars and licensing opportunities, we have decided to only use those initials in the future. From this point on, all of our publicity and endeavors will be re-labeled with a name we think is a much more accurate reflection of our mission and our goals.
We look forward to serving the baseball federations of the world as we head into our 36th year flying our new colors and our new brand -- ISG BASEBALL
Work Continues on ISG Baseball-Backed Ukraine Baseball ComplexRecently ISG Baseball continued its support of the new baseball complex in the Ukraine when Vice President Pete Caliendo visited the country and had conversations with the key developers there.
Caliendo provided the key players with advice on acquiring further funding including cooperation with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and procuring local funding. The meetings were part of the mission of ISG Baseball to grow the game worldwide especially in areas, such as Eastern Europe, which are ripe for development. To date, ISG Baseball has helped Ukraine Baseball raise over $20,000 for this project. Featured below is the newly finished back stop and dugout. 
Detailed plans for the new field.
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No Excuse for Negative Coaching
(This article appeared on the Changing the Game Project website and its philosophy is shared by the ISG Baseball Board of Directors.)
One of the best resources coaches have on the internet, the Changing the Game Project continually prints articles of pivotal importance for coaches of all sports at all levels. A recent article focused on the importance of remaining positive with athletes and avoiding abuse. All too often, the media reprints horror stories about the screaming youth league coach or punishment drills that abuse kids. Read the following article to see some of the scientific evidence for these shortsighted approaches to coaching and the lasting damage that can be done to athletes. https://changingthegameproject.com/no-excuse-for-the-abuse/ 
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Caliendo Conducts Certification Clinic for CEB License in Sofia, BulgariaBeginning in 2015, International Sports Group and the European Baseball Confederation (CEB) began an illustrious partnership to further develop coaching in Europe. Last year, coaches in Croatia and the Ukraine were instructed in some of the finer points of the game and are now spreading their knowledge throughout their nations.
This July, the first of the 2017-18 seminars will be held in Bulgaria. Pete Caliendo will conduct the week long classes for Bulgarian coaches which will lead to certification from CEB. Further information about the certification process and how a nation may become involved can be obtained by contacting President Tom O'Connell. 
Above: ISG Vice President Pete Caliendo and the Bulgarian U23 team talk strategy.
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Baseball Canada's Vision for Long Term Athletic Development Shared in Coaching Tips Section
Baseball Canada is miles ahead of the curve when it comes to developing athletes for life-long success. Thanks to our friend Andre Lachance, they have allowed us to share the scope of that vision with you. Check out our coaching tips section for a graphic illustration of their LTAD plans.
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